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One and a half day after Croatian prime minister Sanader resigned we know as little about his reason as at the very beginning. Croatian society is taken hostage by Sanader's refusal to say why he stepped down. He said it was for "personal reasons", but immediately added that "thank God" he is not ill. So what is he? Tired? I guess so. But name me one prime minister or president who is not tired. Maybe he was politically worn out. Although he claimed to have achieved everything he wanted to achieve, the truth is that he leaves Croatia behind in a state of despair and in need of repair.
It was great that George Bush came to Zagreb and spoke warm words about the wonderful relationship between Croatia and the United States. It was heartwarming to see Sanader being greeted by his European colleagues in Brussels. It gave the impression that he was one of them, a member of the club. But in the end he isn't. Despite all the hot air about the leading role of Croatia in the region, tiny Slovenia has blocked Croatia's path to EU membership, for six months now. And the end is not in sight. Big dreams - and all dashed by a country the size of Latvia.
If Sanader had remained premier, Croatia would have held scheduled parliamentary elections (2011) as a non-member of the EU. Maybe Sanader could not stand this shame. Despite years of bragging and boasting about Croatia's progress and how important the EU is to Croatia (he wanted me to believe that Croatia is also very important for the EU), Croatia is nowhere. The budget deficit is gigantic, the economy half socialist, hidden unemployment enormous, corruption seems ineradicable.
A surprised journalist asked yesterday why he is leaving, after she (and none of us) understood what "personal reasons" he had. "I explained why," he answered arrogantly, "and I am not going to argue with you." That was it. He thanked the press for their cooperation (irony, if you ask me) and left.
In which country is this possible? Even Fidel Castro admitted he was too ill to lead Cuba. And Kim Jung Il pretends he is still in power, although he is virtually dead.
Meanwhile, everybody says everybody is speculating. But I am honestly surprised that so few realistic reasons were suggested. Croats love conspiracy theories, but Sanader's decision took everybody by surprise. No one has a clue.
It was great that George Bush came to Zagreb and spoke warm words about the wonderful relationship between Croatia and the United States. It was heartwarming to see Sanader being greeted by his European colleagues in Brussels. It gave the impression that he was one of them, a member of the club. But in the end he isn't. Despite all the hot air about the leading role of Croatia in the region, tiny Slovenia has blocked Croatia's path to EU membership, for six months now. And the end is not in sight. Big dreams - and all dashed by a country the size of Latvia.If Sanader had remained premier, Croatia would have held scheduled parliamentary elections (2011) as a non-member of the EU. Maybe Sanader could not stand this shame. Despite years of bragging and boasting about Croatia's progress and how important the EU is to Croatia (he wanted me to believe that Croatia is also very important for the EU), Croatia is nowhere. The budget deficit is gigantic, the economy half socialist, hidden unemployment enormous, corruption seems ineradicable.
A surprised journalist asked yesterday why he is leaving, after she (and none of us) understood what "personal reasons" he had. "I explained why," he answered arrogantly, "and I am not going to argue with you." That was it. He thanked the press for their cooperation (irony, if you ask me) and left.
In which country is this possible? Even Fidel Castro admitted he was too ill to lead Cuba. And Kim Jung Il pretends he is still in power, although he is virtually dead.
Meanwhile, everybody says everybody is speculating. But I am honestly surprised that so few realistic reasons were suggested. Croats love conspiracy theories, but Sanader's decision took everybody by surprise. No one has a clue.
5 reacties:
why did he step down? let's just say he'll probably be sittin' pretty in south america soon enough.
economic catastrophe is on the way. i am so sad for croatia. really, this is terrible.
this and what's going on in bosnia, look for some major instability their over the next several years.
i hope people in croatia actually start believing they have some power and do something about all this instead of sipping coffee or beer and watching big brother. it's time to clean up, yesterday. and if not now, another round of tragedy to come. :'(
why did he step down? let's just say he'll probably be sittin' pretty in south america soon enough.
economic catastrophe is on the way. i am so sad for croatia. really, this is terrible.
this and what's going on in bosnia, look for some major instability their over the next several years.
i hope people in croatia actually start believing they have some power and do something about all this instead of sipping coffee or beer and watching big brother. it's time to clean up, yesterday. and if not now, another round of tragedy to come. :'(
Hi Boris
Personally good but generally depressing to see another blogger as confused as me on this! Think/hope that Croatians will be pressing hard for a better explanation and deserve to get one. Then hopefully the event will sit better with the rest of the world though we're all in deep disarray at the moment!
Jane
www.croatiaonline.blogspot.com
I am still confused; time for a vacation break :-) One explanation I heard is that Sanader wanted to shock Europe with his resignation, as to show how deeply hurt the Croatian nation is by the Slovenian blockade. I can understand his frustration, but to think that he can shock Europe shows that he grossly overestimated his own position in Europe. I honestly think most European leaders do not care if Sanader or Kosor or who else is at the helm in Croatia.
I'll be back in two weeks from now...
A month later.. Croatia has given in to Slovenia. Wise, I think, because membership of the EU is more important than a small bay. It's rather naive to think that Europe would be shocked by S's resignation: in Holland was a small article in the papers, that's all. Hardly anyone knows.
I think Croatia gets a rough treatment by the EU as a signal/lesson to Turkey : we have our conditions! and we stick to it.
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